FIBA Basketball
ITA - Fortitudo edge Bologna derby
BOLOGNA (Lega A) - Fortitudo held off rival Virtus to win the latest edition of the Bologna derby 86-84 on Saturday. Italian basketball was robbed of this glamorous showdown the past few years after Virtus’ relegation but they won promotion last season and the great showdown has resumed.Climamio Bologna, the defending Lega A champions who are traditionally known as Fortitudo, led 80-71 with less than three minutes remaining
BOLOGNA (Lega A) - Fortitudo held off rival Virtus to win the latest edition of the Bologna derby 86-84 on Saturday.
Italian basketball was robbed of this glamorous showdown the past few years after Virtus’ relegation but they won promotion last season and the great showdown has resumed.
Climamio Bologna, the defending Lega A champions who are traditionally known as Fortitudo, led 80-71 with less than three minutes remaining but VidiVici.
Bologna fought back and pulled level at 84-84 on a three-point play by Fabio Di Bella in the final minute.
Di Bella, who had 20 points, was fouled by Travis Watson while scoring a basket and he sank the free throw to set up a thrilling finish.
Nate Green went to the other end and scored for Fortitudo, and then Di Bella turned the ball back over to the visitors.
When Virtus fouled Sani Becirovic, an excellent free throw shooter, their fate looked sealed.
But the Slovenian international missed two free throws and Kris Lang rebounded for VidiVici and took a desperation three but missed as time expired.
The result means that Climamio have 21 wins and seven defeats while Virtus are 18-9.
Stefano Mancinelli, the Climamio captain, played just seven minutes and did not score.
The Italian national team player is paying the price for lacklustre play, with coach Jasmin Repesa very critical of Mancinelli’s effort in a recent defeat.
Even though Climamio recently signed Mancinelli to a contract extension, his future increasingly looks as if it will be with another club.
In his place, Climamio played Yakhouba Diawara for 20 minutes and he had seven points.
Repesa says he was looking forward to the game against Virtus because he has a young side and wanted to see how they were going to react.
"I wanted to see how my team would react in such a heated atmosphere and I can only be satisfied with the end result," Repesa said.
"I have to compliment both teams because they have shown correctness on the court and were competitive.
"Of course, right at the end we could have done better but overall, we've played a good game."
The showdown put Becirovic and Marco Belinelli up against their former club.
"We prepared the whole week on concentration because we knew that it wasn't going to be an easy game for Belinelli or Becirovic," he said.
Belinelli had 18 points but was only four of 11 from three-point range, while Becirovic had a game-high 21 and six rebounds.
Becirovic's international team-mate Erazem Lorbek finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
"Before the game, I was tense," Belinelli said. "I cannot forget that my beginning in basketball started at Virtus and there are so many memories that come to your mind. The most important thing is that we've won.
"Had I played well and my team lost, I wouldn't be very happy."
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA
Italian basketball was robbed of this glamorous showdown the past few years after Virtus’ relegation but they won promotion last season and the great showdown has resumed.
Climamio Bologna, the defending Lega A champions who are traditionally known as Fortitudo, led 80-71 with less than three minutes remaining but VidiVici.
Bologna fought back and pulled level at 84-84 on a three-point play by Fabio Di Bella in the final minute.
Di Bella, who had 20 points, was fouled by Travis Watson while scoring a basket and he sank the free throw to set up a thrilling finish.
Nate Green went to the other end and scored for Fortitudo, and then Di Bella turned the ball back over to the visitors.
When Virtus fouled Sani Becirovic, an excellent free throw shooter, their fate looked sealed.
But the Slovenian international missed two free throws and Kris Lang rebounded for VidiVici and took a desperation three but missed as time expired.
The result means that Climamio have 21 wins and seven defeats while Virtus are 18-9.
Stefano Mancinelli, the Climamio captain, played just seven minutes and did not score.
The Italian national team player is paying the price for lacklustre play, with coach Jasmin Repesa very critical of Mancinelli’s effort in a recent defeat.
Even though Climamio recently signed Mancinelli to a contract extension, his future increasingly looks as if it will be with another club.
In his place, Climamio played Yakhouba Diawara for 20 minutes and he had seven points.
Repesa says he was looking forward to the game against Virtus because he has a young side and wanted to see how they were going to react.
"I wanted to see how my team would react in such a heated atmosphere and I can only be satisfied with the end result," Repesa said.
"I have to compliment both teams because they have shown correctness on the court and were competitive.
"Of course, right at the end we could have done better but overall, we've played a good game."
The showdown put Becirovic and Marco Belinelli up against their former club.
"We prepared the whole week on concentration because we knew that it wasn't going to be an easy game for Belinelli or Becirovic," he said.
Belinelli had 18 points but was only four of 11 from three-point range, while Becirovic had a game-high 21 and six rebounds.
Becirovic's international team-mate Erazem Lorbek finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
"Before the game, I was tense," Belinelli said. "I cannot forget that my beginning in basketball started at Virtus and there are so many memories that come to your mind. The most important thing is that we've won.
"Had I played well and my team lost, I wouldn't be very happy."
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA